A Guide to the University of Texas at San Antonio: Office of the Vice President for Downtown Operations Records,
1988-1998

University of Texas at San Antonio. Office of the Vice President for Downtown Operations

Title:

University of Texas at San Antonio: Office of the Vice President for Downtown Operations Records

Dates:

1988-1998

Creator Abstract:

The Office of the Vice President for Downtown Operations, established in 1991, oversaw the establishment of a second campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio. The Vice President of Downtown Operations reported to the President and directly supervised four offices: Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services - Downtown, UTSA Economic Development Centers, UTSA Alliance for Education, and Educational Outreach. The office, as well as downtown classes, were located at the Institute of Texan Cultures from September 1991 until 1993, when classes moved to Cypress Tower. Dr. Jude Valdez was the first and only Vice President for Downtown Operations. The office was dissolved in approximately 1995.

Content Abstract:

This collection spans the years 1988 through 1998 and includes correspondence, organizational charts, drafts of strategic plans and related notes and correspondence, planning documents relating to the downtown campus's move from the Institute of Texan Cultures to Cypress Tower, news clippings documenting media coverage of UTSA Downtown, brochures, pamphlets, event programs, course catalogs, and other materials.

The UTSA Office of the Vice President for Downtown Operations, established in 1991, oversaw the establishment of a second campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio. The Vice President for Downtown Operations (VPDO) reported directly to the President. The position's duties included responsibility of all administrative and physical plant support services located downtown, including business services, physical plant, custodial and grounds maintenance, utilities, security, and parking. The VPDO directly supervised four offices: Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services - Downtown, UTSA Economic Development Centers, UTSA Alliance for Education, and Educational Outreach. Prior to the establishment of this office, downtown operations were overseen by the Executive Director of the Institute of Texan Cultures and Vice President for Downtown Affairs, a position held by John McGiffert until his retirement in August 1991.

The VPDO as well as downtown classes were located at the Institute of Texan Cultures from September 1991 until January 1994, when classes moved to Cypress Tower on Main Street in downtown San Antonio. At that time, construction was underway for a permanent campus, which would be completed in 1998.

Dr. Jude Valdez was the Vice President for Downtown Operations, appointed in 1991 by UTSA President Samuel A. Kirkpatrick. Prior to this position, Valdez worked in the Center for Economic Development (a unit of the College of Business) as the director of the University's economic development centers located at HemisFair Park and in the Control Data Corporation building on South Frio Street. He was additionally an Associate Dean in the College of Business.

The Office of the Vice President for Downtown Operations was dissolved in approximately 1995. Jude Valdez became the Vice President for Extended Education and Director of Economic Development Centers and later the Vice President for Community Services. Operations at the UTSA Downtown Campus were overseen by Vice Provost for UTSA Downtown Campus, Dr. Jesse Zapata.

This collection spans the years 1988 through 1998 and includes correspondence, memoranda, organizational charts, drafts of strategic plans and related notes and correspondence, planning documents relating to the downtown campus's move from the Institute of Texan Cultures to Cypress Tower, news clippings documenting media coverage of UTSA Downtown, brochures, pamphlets, event programs, course catalogs, and other materials.

The records were primarily created by Jude Valdez, Vice President for Downtown Operations, and collected by Barbara Harp, Senior Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Downtown Operations.

This collection is housed at UTSA's HemisFair Park Campus and must be accessed via the Institute of Texan Cultures Special Collections Reading Room. To request access, please use our Collections Request Form.